Best of 2009: Trend of the Year

Our favorite trends of the year revolve around two body parts, while one can be splattered anywhere on the body. Intrigued? Legs got a lot of attention with the emergence of sexy over-the-knee boots, denim's distressed revenge, and the reemergence of leggings. Meanwhile, shoulder love continued to flourish via shoulder pads and sharp outerwear — specifically, the Michael Jackson-esque drummer jacket. Lastly, studs continue to deliver edge and sass to clothing, shoes, and bags. Which trend did you follow the closest in 2009?

Don't forget to join our Best of '09 group to share your '09 favorites — the news, trends, models, designers, celebrities, and musings that rocked your world this year. Vote happy? Vote on our other Best of 2009 polls!

I agree with everything nikkeeb said! I had to pick leggings, because it's really the only one of them I really wear (though I do have a cool leather drummer-esque jacket.) I like the idea of over-the-knee boots, but in real life, it too often just looks slutty. I'm too scared to spend hundreds of dollars to try it.

I had a hard time picking one too! I can honestly say the drummer jacket - for me - was not even in the running. I just didn't quite like that one. But I rocked distressed jeans, studs, leggings most of the time. I love the over the knee boots, but never bought any.

I picked over-the-knee boots, although the new ones are not at all "pretty woman" and are very wearable. While I like them, I don't consider leggings, distressed denim, or studs to be new trends of this year. The shoulders, I just don't like much.

Man, hard choices for me personally:
Over-the-knees - I don't think a person in real life could wear these without getting a lot of disapproving looks.
Distressed denim - I think past a certain age, you'd just look silly.
Leggings - I'd totally be an advocate if girls didn't wear leggings like they were pants. Tunics have been getting shorter and shorter, and nobody wants to see the contours of everything you've got!
Drummer jacket - I love interpretations of this, but some others are just too much.
Studs - These are fine by me..but I think studs are almost always in.
Exaggerated shoulders - I picked this half-jokingly, because I've always had broad shoulders and it makes me feel better that people are padding and spiking shoulderpads...it makes my shoulders feel less weird. Hahah...

I honestly wanted to vote for all of them! that's the first time I actually feel like all the trends out there fit my style enough for me to dare wearing them, even if I adapt them to a more everyday style than those of the runways, designers have been so creative it made me want to try and get out of my comfort zone to try new things! :) And it feels great!